Bag holder



March 15, 1966 F. BACKLUND ETAL 3,240,457

BAG HOLDER Filed Aug. 5, 1964 B Sheets-Sheet 1 Frank Back/Una R0 y H.Ho/mberg 1N VEN TORS March 15, 1966 F. BACKLUND ETAL 3,240,457

BAG HOLDER Filed Aug. 5, 1964 4 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.8

Frank Back/Una Roy H. Ho/mberg INVENTORS United States Patent 3,240,457BAG HOLDER Frank Backlund, 132 Coy St., and Roy H. Holmberg, Rte. 1,both of Maukato, Minn. Filed Aug. 5, 1964, Ser. No. 387,619 3 Claims.(Cl. 248-99) This invention relates, broadly stated, to holders forcollapsible sacks and bags and, while it is susceptible of feasible usewith many and varied types and styles of bags, it is expressly designedand adapted for use on and in conjunction with throwaway paper bags suchas are commonly used in the home, hospitals, motels, in automobiles,parks and elsewhere for reception and convenient disposal of waste,litter and trash.

Paper bags, waterproofed or not, are in such demand and widespread usethat no effort will be herein made to comprehend or dwell on thediversified practice and mode of handling the same. On the other hand,it is is significant that because most paper bags (home used grocerystore bags, for example) are flimsy and quite often dfticult to copewith full advantage of the prevailing practice is not amply realized. Itfollows that it is the general objective in the instant matter toprovide bag users with readily and easily usable bag holders both formsof which serve to spread and retain the bags mouth open and readied forunhampered use and one form of which includes a helpfully practical bagerecting and steadying stand.

It is common knowledge that bag holders, supports and stands are, ofcourse, old and well known. Accordingly, it is another objective hereinto structurally, functionally and in other notable ways improve uponprior art adaptations. To this end and in carrying out the presentconcept two embodiments are offered. One comprises a simple onepiecewire or equivalent frame which is readily attachable to the wallportions of the mouth of the bag. This frame functions to spread themouth to a wide open position and has readily attachable and detachablemeans for applying the frame and holding it in its intended position.

More particularly, the means preferred comprises simple and expedientclip-on grips which are located at the four corners of the frame andcooperate with the respective corners of the wall portions of the bagmouth.

Novelty is also predicated on a portable folding legequipped stand whoseupper part is provided with bag spreading and attaching means, as willbe hereinafter detailed and set forth.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view in perspective showing a common paper bag with theimproved bag holding attachment applied to the mouth of the bag andillustrating how it performs in effectively spreading and retaining themouth in an open position for unhampered filling of the receptacleportion of the 'bag;

FIGURE 2 is a view in perspective of the holder attachment by itself;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view based on FIG. 1 but on a slightly smallerscale;

FIGURE 4 is a section taken on the plane of the section line 4-4 ofFIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a view in perspective similar to FIGURE 1 and wherein thebag holder attachment takes the form of a bag erecting stand and whichshows how the stand is constructed and used;

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FIGURE 6 is a view in perspective of the stand and attaching means setup for ready use;

FIGURE 7 is a top plan view of FIG. 5 on a smaller scale;

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the plane of the sectionline 88 of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a view in perspective similar to FIG. 2 but showing a thirdform of the invention.

With reference first to the embodiment or form of th inventionillustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4, inclusive, the paper bag is denoted by thenumeral 10 and comprises a standard folding paper bag (whatever the sizeand material may be) which embodies, when the bag is open, opposed sidewalls 12 and intervening oppositely disposed end walls 14. The holderand spreader attachment is shown to advantage in FIG. 2 wherein it willbe noted that it is designated, as an entity, by the numeral 16. It ispreferably constructed from stable or stout but bendable rod stock and,broadly speaking, comprises a substantially rigid frame wherein theframe members constitute stays and wherein said frame members areconnected to each other by connectors which have the additional functionof frame attaching and retaining clips or grips. The frame morespecifically is rectangular in plan and comprises a pair of duplicateopposed parallel coplanar longitudinal members 18 joined by interveningshorter transverse end members 20. The frame members 18 are provided attheir respective ends with relatively short upstanding legs 22 which aredisposed in opposed spaced parallelism to similar correspondinglyconstructed legs 24 at the respective ends of the transverse framemembers 20. The upper ends of these legs 22 and 24 are integrated by asuitably curved bend or bent portion 26 whereby the several components22, 24 and 26 provide a substantially inverted U-shaped bag clip or gripdenoted generally at 28. The arrangement and cooperation of the fourframe members and four grips adapts the overall frame to application anduse in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4. The frame members 18and 20 constitute bag spreading stays and serve to stabilize the bagwalls 12 and 14. The clips or grips 28 fit over the respective cornerportions 30 of the now open bag mouth and this is accomplished in such away that the frame members or stays 18 are disposed on the exterior andcontact the exterior surfaces of the side walls 12 of the bag. On theother hand the shorter frame members or stays 20 are situated on theinterior of the bag and consequently contact and brace the interiorsurfaces of the end Walls 14.

The broad and specific aspects of the embodiment of the invention shownin FIG. 2 are believed to be clear. The manner of applying and using theattachment (FIGS. 1, 3 and 4) will be clear upon evaluating the mannerin which the component parts 18, 20 and 28 cooperate with each other andalso with the wall and corner portions of the bag 10.

Taking up now the form or embodiment of the invention disclosed in FIGS.5 to 8, inclusive it is reiterated that this embodiment is characterizedby frame means, more specifically, a foldable or collapsible stand andwherein the frame means is also provided with bag wall steadying staysand clip-like grips or attaching means therefor. More specifically thestand is made up of two identically constructed component parts orunits; namely, the U-shaped frame 32 at the right in FIG. 6 and thecompanion U-shaped frame 34 at the left in the same showing. Each legframe is the same in construction and a description of one will SUII'ICCfor both. To this end the horizontal bottom or bight portion is denotedat 36 and, if desired, is provided with rubber surface protecting andanti-slipping sleeves 38. The coplanar spaced parallel legs which areupwardly directed in use are denoted at 40. The legs of the leg frame 32are crossed with the median portions of the legs 40 of the frame 34 andsuitably fashioned and pivotally connected together at 42 .to permit theoverall frame or stand to be folded into compact form for handling,transportation and storage. The bag mouth steadying and reinforcingmeans is situated at the upper end portions 'of the respective legframes 32 and 34. Each means comprises an elongated rod or stay 44 whichis of a length in keeping with the dimension of the bag wall with whichit is adapted to cooperate. The member 44 is provided at its oppositeends with lateral upstanding bent portions 46 which constituteauxiliarly legs and which have their upper ends integrally joined to thecorresponding upper ends of the main legs 40 by Way of suitably twistedbends or bent portions 48 which function to offset the members 44 sothat they will be in proper spaced-apart coplanar relationship.

The twisted bends 48 which junctionally connect the short or auxiliarylegs 46 with the upper ends of the principal or main legs 40 are such incharacter that when the main legs of the leg frames 32 and 34 assumepivoted X-shaped relationship as shown in FIG. 5, the gripequippedstabilizing members or stays 44 assume the intended interior bag wallrelationship shown in FIGS. 5, 7 and 8. This is to say the stays 44 arecoplanar in spaced parallelism and appropriately vertical to thediagonal slant of the pivoted legs 40. Consequently, the leg frames 32and 34 cooperate with the side walls 50 and end walls 52 of the bag. 54as best shown in FIG. 5. Whereas the components 36'and 40 are on theexterior ofv the bag and support the bag in an erect self-standingmanner, the interior stays 44 stabilize the upper wall portions and thegrip means 46 and 48- functions to engage the corner portions of theopen bag.

With reference now to the third form of the invention (see FIG. 9) itwill be evident that this is basically and broadly much the same as theform of the invention illustrated in FIG. 2. With specific reference toFIG. 9 it will be noted that the frame, instead of being of one-piececonstruction (as shown in FIG. 2) is made up of a plurality ofindividual component parts which are separably and adjustably connectedtogether to provide a frame which is extensible and retractible. Thepurpose of this adjustable adaptation is, obviously, to permit the frameto adapt itself to bags of different sizes. Briefly, it comprises fourcorrespondingly constructed corner units, each,

unit denoted by the reference character 28A. These four units are inturn separably and adjustably joined together in frame-formingrelationship by way of four assembling sleeves or tubes, the sidesleeves being denoted at 18A and being in spaced parallel coplanarrelation and the end sleeves at 20A. Consequently, the component parts18A, 20A and 28A go to make up the adjustable frame 16A. Each cornerunit is fashioned into an inverted U- shaped bag clip or grip 29 whichjoins coplanar end members 31 which extend telescopingly and adjustablyinto the sockets provided therefor in the coacting end portions of theassembling and adjusting sleeves or tubes 18A ments of the inventionwill be evident from the preceding description and the accompanyingviews of the illustrative but not restrictive drawings. One of the usersgreatest and perplexing objections to the use of flimsy paper bags willbe readily overcome with the aid of the herein disclosed bag holding andspreading means. Other features and advantages of the invention willalso be clearly evident. Accordingly, a more extended description of theconcept and its purposes is thought to be unnecessary.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modificationsand equivalents maybe resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A readily attachable and detachable paper bag holder comprising aframe designed and structurally adapted to spread and hold the mouth ofa bag unobstructedly open, said frame made from bendable butself-shape-sustaining rod stock and embodying a pair of duplicatelongitudinally spaced parallel coplanar side members adapted to contactand bridge predetermined exterior surfaces of a bags side walls, and acomplemental pair of companion spaced parallel end members disposed atright angles to their respectively coordinated side members and beingparallel to each other and adapted to fittingly depend into the mouth ofa bag in a manner to bridge interior surfaces of the usual end walls ofa bag, the terminal ends of said side members and end members,respectively, being joined together by individual upstanding butinverted U-shaped members constituting and providing readily applicableand removable bag corner engaging clips, the component vertical portionsof said clips being releasably connectible with interior and exteriorbag wall portions of the respective corners of a bag, and the bightportions of said clips being adapted to be saddled over coacting upperfree edge portions of a bags side and end walls.

2. The structure defined in claim 1 and wherein said frame is generallyrectangular in plan, said frame and clips being made from a singlelength of rod stock having resilient properties.

3. The structure defined in claim 1 and wherein said frame is elongatedand made up of a plurality of four duplicate frame-forming units, saidunits each embodying one of said' U-shaped cli-ps cooperating with eachother in defining the aforementioned side and end members, and all ofsaid side and end members being longitudinally adjustably joinedtogether and permitting the overall frame to be manually adjusted. toaccommodate bags of 55 varying sizes.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED. STATES PATENTS CHANCELLOR E.HARRIS, Primary Examiner.

FRANK L. ABBOTT, CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Examiners.

1. A READILY ATTACHABLE AND DETACHABLY PAPER BAG HOLDER COMPRISING AFRAME DESIGNED AND STRUCTURALLY ADAPTED TO SPREAD AND HOLD THE MOUTH OFA BAG UNOBSTRUCTEDLY OPEN, SAID FRAME MADE FROM BENDABLE BUTSELF-SHAPE-SUSTAINING ROD STOCK AND EMBODYING A PAIR OF DUPLICATELONGITUDINALLY SPACED PARALLEL COPLANAR SIDE MEMBERS ADAPTED TO CONTACTAND BRIDGE PREDETERMINED EXTERIOR SURFACES OF A BAG''S SIDE WALLS, AND ACOMPLEMENTAL PAIR OF COMPANION SPACED PARALLEL END MEMBERS DISPOSED ATRIGHT ANGLES TO THEIR RESPECTIVELY COORDINATED SIDE MEMBERS AND BEINGPARALLEL TO EACH OTHER AND ADAPTED TO FITTINGLY DEPEND INTO THE MOUTH OFA BAG IN A MANNER TO BRIDGE INTERIOR SURFACES OF THE USUAL END WALLS OFA BAG, THE TERMINAL ENDS OF SAID SIDE MEMBERS AND END MEMBERS,RESPECTIVELY, BEING JOINED TOGETHER BY INDIVIDUAL UPSTANDING BUT IN-